New Zealand Freshwater Fish

11004-00204 Pouched lamprey (Geotria australis) macropthalmia, or juvenile lamprey photographed in autumn. After about 4 years living in the mud as an ammocoete, young lamprey change colour from blind, brown ammocoete larvae to this brilliant silver-blue over a period of about two months. During this time their eyes develop, and when they are about 120 mm long, and usually by winters end, they begin their journey downstream to the ocean. Okuti River, Canterbury *